Behind the Scenes 01: Screencap 09

Ned Stark cleaning the ancestral sword of the Starks, Ice, after carrying out an execution in the king’s name. Ice is described as a greatsword with the typical dark grey blade of Valyrian steel, with ripples within the metal from the many folds that the Valyrian smiths used to create the sword some five hundred years before. This blade looks rather more mundane, it must be said, but in terms of its styling it has a beauty in its utilitarian lines and details.

As commenter Kennef points out, the red leaves certainly appear to be the weirwood leaves in the godwood. A great touch! One wondes if they’re hand-shaped?